Sharing Memory Resources of Wireless Portable Electronic Devices

Abstract

It is not uncommon for two or more wireless-enabled devices to spend most of their time in close proximity to one another. For example, a person may routinely carry a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a portable digital audio/video player, or a cellphone and a PDA, or a smartphone and a gaming device. When it is desirable to increase the memory storage capacity of a first such device, it may be possible to use memory on one or more of the other devices to temporarily store data from the first device.

1 . A method to manage data storage of a first wireless portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 storing in a memory of the first wireless portable electronic device data items that are accessible by a user of the first wireless portable electronic device via applications, wherein the applications are executable by a processor of the first wireless portable electronic device;   securely transmitting a data item or portion thereof, currently stored in the memory, over a direct wireless communication link to a second wireless portable electronic device;   the processor writing in the memory information for retrieving the data item or portion thereof from the second wireless portable electronic device;   receiving confirmation from the second wireless portable electronic device of successful receipt and of successful storage of the data item or portion thereof; and   in response to the receiving, the processor erasing from the memory the data item or portion thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 using the information for securely retrieving the data item or portion thereof from the second wireless portable electronic device over the direct wireless communication link.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 processor storing the retrieved data item or portion thereof in a cache of the first wireless portable electronic device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the processor storing the retrieved data item or portion thereof in the memory of the first wireless portable electronic device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving information from the second wireless portable electronic device about its unused storage capacity; and   the processor determining, based at least in part upon the unused storage capacity, which data items stored in the memory to transmit to the second wireless portable electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the processor applying a set of rules to determine which data items currently stored in the memory are candidates for transmission to the second wireless portable electronic device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules includes applying the set of rules automatically without requiring user input or intervention. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying messages that are older than a predetermined threshold age. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying messages whose last access by the user occurred prior to a predetermined cut-off date. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying attachments to messages. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying attachments to messages larger than a predetermined threshold size. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying calendar appointments that are older than a predetermined threshold age. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying calendar appointments that occurred in the past. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying calendar appointments that occur in the future after a pre-determined date. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein applying the set of rules comprises identifying notes to calendar appointments. 
     
     
         16 . A first portable electronic device, comprising:
 a memory storing code, the memory arranged to store applications and arranged to store data items that are accessible by a user of the first portable electronic device via the applications; and   a wireless communication interface through which the first device is operative to communicate securely and authentically directly with a second portable electronic device, and   a processor coupled to the memory and to the wireless communication interface, the processor operative to execute the applications and the code,   wherein execution of the code by the processor causes the first portable electronic device to securely transmit a data item or portion thereof via the secure communications to the second portable electronic device for temporary storage therein, causes the first portable electronic device to write in the memory information for retrieving the data item or portion thereof from the second portable electronic device, and, in response to receiving via the wireless communication interface confirmation from the second wireless portable electronic device of successful receipt and of successful storage of the data item or portion thereof, causes the first portable electronic device to erase the data item or portion thereof from the memory.   
     
     
         17 . The first portable electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein execution of the code by the processor causes the first portable electronic device to apply a set of rules to determine which of the data items or portions thereof to transmit to the second portable electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The first portable electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein execution of the code by the processor causes the first portable electronic device to apply the set of rules automatically without requiring user input or intervention. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a first wireless portable electronic device comprising a processor and a memory, the memory operative to store applications that are executable by the processor, to store code that is executable by the processor, and to store data items that are accessible by a user of the first wireless portable electronic device via the applications; and   a second wireless portable electronic device;   wherein the first wireless portable electronic device and the second wireless portable electronic device are operative to conduct secure wireless communications directly therebetween, and   wherein execution by the processor of the code causes the first wireless portable electronic device to transmit a data item or portion thereof to the second wireless portable electronic device via the secure wireless communications, causes the first wireless portable electronic device to write in the memory information for retrieving the data item or portion thereof from the second wireless portable electronic device, and, in response to receiving via the wireless communication interface confirmation from the second wireless portable electronic device of successful receipt and of successful storage of the data item or portion thereof, causes the first portable electronic device to erase the data item or portion thereof from the memory.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first wireless portable electronic device is a mobile device that is operative to send and receive e-mail messages.